Sunday, July 31, 2011

Wow, where did JULY go?!!




the daylily didn't mind the rain at all!
We're just now starting to see some Monarch's. I don't know if the 10" of rain helped or what, but there are now several flittering around the yard. I don't think I will have time to raise any this year. I'm just too much behind with iris orders. Hopefully the extreme heat, and excessive rain are over now. I'm so glad we spent all the time to build the raised beds for the iris. Or they would have been washed out and sitting in a pond. They are drying out well now, the past two days have been HOT and sunny. 

The sunflower was sad after so much rain.

Flooded around the big locust tree.

the zinnia were very wet too.

Sooo glad we raised them up!


see how far it washed the straw out in the grass. 

ick, mukky messy straw

Actually flipped this side of the bed up and off !so the water was running higher than the board

Not so deep now, but the iris would be in it if they weren't in raised beds. This is 24 hours + after the rain.

the little stream running around some of the beds. 

We liked it!
The lovely pic my son snapped of me in my home-made wash-station. See all the clean roots to the right? Almost done for that day. He said my stylin apron was very "hippie". Hey it keeps me dry! It's actually tablecloth material.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Where are all the Butterflies????

Every summer we have Monarchs laying eggs on the milkweed and butterfly weed. I've planted tons of it so they have lots of food. I also had hubby help me build some hatchery boxes. Monarch eggs have a tough time. They have many predators from wasps to mice.  So taking the eggs to a protected place gives them an almost certain chance to make it to the butterfly stage. On their own it's only 1 or 2 in 10 eggs that make it!
These are pics from 2 years ago when I released over 200 Monarchs! :D





But this year, I only see one flitting around occasionally. And I've yet to find a single egg. No caterpillars, nothing. :(  What happened? Was it the hurricane while they were migrating back up north? I hope they show up soon so I can  raise some more. My granddaugher Zoe likes to help. She says they tickle when you hold them.
The butterfly weed is in full bloom. A few bees have found it (another thing that seems in short supply this year).
Do you have any Monarchs in your gardens?